Petunia plant named &#39;kleph13228&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  petunia  plant particularly distinguished by having single, light blue colored flowers, and an upright mounding, medium-compact vigour plant habit, is disclosed

GENUS AND SPECIES

Petunia hybrida

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEPH13228’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of petunia,botanically known as Petunia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEPH13228’. ‘KLEPH13228’ is a selection from across-pollination of the proprietary female petunia line ‘PH-2008-0221’(unpatented) and the proprietary male petunia line ‘PH-2008-0448’(unpatented).

In July of 2009 the proprietary female petunia line ‘PH-2008-0221’ andthe proprietary male petunia line ‘PH-2008-0448’ were cross-pollinatedin Latina, Italy and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plantswere grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in April 2010 inLatina, Italy and named ‘KLEPH13228’. In April 2010, ‘KLEPH13228’ wasfirst vegetatively propagated by terminal tip cuttings and tissueculture. ‘KLEPH13228’ was found to reproduce true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation via terminal tip cuttings and tissueculture in Stuttgart, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany and Latina, Italy.

1. Single, light blue colored flowers; and

2. An upright, mounding, medium-compact vigour plant habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new petunia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show an overall view of the plant. The colors shown are as true ascan be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a basket. Theplant is about 5 months-old grown in Stuttgart, Germany in July 2013.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant grownin a pot. The plant is about 3 months-old grown in Stuttgart, Germany inMay 2013.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEPH13228’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inLatina, Italy. Data was collected on thirteen-week-old plants grownindoors in Latina, Italy under greenhouse conditions in March of 2014.Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Species.—Petunia hybrida.        -   Common name.—Petunia.        -   Variety.—‘KLEPH13228’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female.—Proprietary petunia line ‘PH-2008-0221’.        -   Male.—Proprietary petunia line ‘PH-2008-0448’.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Medium, compact.        -   Habit.—Upright, mounding.        -   Height (from top of soil).—About 12.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—About 20.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Terminal tip cuttings and tissue culture.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—13 to 14 weeks            in winter, 7 weeks in spring.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—2 to 3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Moderate density, moderate branching,            white roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Average number (basal).—About 15.0 cm.        -   Length of basal branches (from the base of the stem to the            tip).—About 18.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.5 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Diameter of branches (from midpoint).—0.4 cm.        -   Stem color.—RHS 143C.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate at the base of the stems, opposite on            the flower stems.        -   Length.—3.5 cm.        -   Width.—2.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137C Lower surface:            RHS 138A.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS N137C Lower surface:            RHS 138A.        -   Texture.—Both upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Arcuate.        -   Venation color.—Both upper and lower surfaces: RHS N144A.        -   Petioles.—Length: 1.4 cm Diameter: 0.4 cm Color: RHS 145B            Texture: Slightly pubescent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Shape.—Irregular oblong.        -   Length.—About 4.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.        -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 92D to RHS 145A and RHS 145C.        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Permanent flowering            during summer time.        -   Inflorescence type.—Cymose.        -   Number of flowers per node.—One.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About one            week.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flowers.—Arrangement: Composed of 5 petals fused at the base            Shape: Funnel form Diameter (flower face): 5.5 cm Depth            (total length of flower): 4.5 cm to 5.0 cm Throat/Funnel:            Length: 2.5 cm Diameter (at opening): 1.5 cm Texture: Both            inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous Color, immature            flower: Face/Margin: RHS N87B Upper surface: RHS N87B Lower            surface: RHS N87B Color, mature flower: Face/Margin color:            RHS N82B Upper surface: RHS N82C Lower surface: RHS N82D.        -   Petals.—Color: Inner surface: RHS N82B Outer surface: RHS            N82D Apex: Mucronate Base: Fused Margin: Entire Strength of            waviness: Weak Degree of lobation: Medium to weak.        -   Calyx arrangement.—Actinomorphic, composed of 5 sepals.        -   Sepals.—Color: Upper surface: RHS N137A Lower surface: RHS            137C Length: 2.0 cm Width: 0.6 cm Shape: Narrowly oblong            Apex: Acute Base: Attenuate Margin: Entire Texture: Both            upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent.        -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 144A Length: About 3.0 cm Diameter: 0.2            cm Texture: Pubescent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5 Shape: Needle with elliptic head            Filament: Length: 1.8 cm Diameter: 0.05 cm Color: RHS 145D            Anther: Shape: Ovate Color: RHS 4D Length: 0.25 cm Diameter:            0.2 cm Pollen: Color: RHS 4D Amount: Moderate.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1 Length: 2.2 cm Stigma color:            RHS N138C Style color: RHS 145B.        -   Fruit and seed set.—No fruit and seed set observed.        -   Disease and pest resistance.—No disease and pest/insect            resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPH13228’ is a distinct variety of petunia. ‘KLEPH13228’ isdistinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male ParentTrait ‘KLEPH13228’ ‘PH-2008-0221’ ‘PH-2008-0488’ Flower type SingleDouble Flower color Light blue Salmon Blue

‘KLEPH13228’ is most similar to the commercial petunia plant named‘AlpeTunia Light Blue’ (not patented). Differences between the twovarieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Commercial line Variety‘AlpeTunia Trait ‘KLEPH13228’ Light Blue’ Plant habit Mounding, Hangingand medium-compact vigorous vigour

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of petunia plant named‘KLEPH13228’ as shown and described herein.